Thanks for all the good information/advice.jdr1014 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 6:32 amWow - PRRI is $1500 + in Canada??!! I wouldn't be inclined to pay that either! OP is in NY and one can get a brand new one with a 5 year warranty shipped to his door for about $850. Add $50 to $75 for bias check....or better yet, buy a bias probe and learn to do it. What I have been seeing around here is about $1200+ for decent SFPRs and upwards of $2000 for BFPRs. (Not that many, either, unfortunately.) Those prices are about what Ebay shows too. Add $200 or so for service, etc.
As with any purchase, do the research and spend wisely. Good PR's of any flavor in good operating condition are wonderful amps.
For sure I'd consider an old SF if they weren't as rare as hen's teeth around here. For whatever reason SFDRs are relatively obtainable, but I don't really need the second channel, and the sound is definitely different than the PR. Sometimes I wonder if I should go for an old silver face Deluxe, snip the bright cap, and be done with it.
I also like the DIY serviceability of the older amps. I did a recap on my old Super 60 (learned from YouTube videos how not to zap myself and yank the old capacitors), but getting at 'em on a tightly packed circuit board was no fun. Haven't ever done my own re-bias, but think I'd be up for it on an older amp where the components are more easily accessible.
Decisions decisions.